Wal MK1 copy/tribute bass (Claassen MK1)

[RonC]

Last year i've been working on a Wal copy bass.

As Wal basses are my absolute favorite and i am the happy owner of 3 Wals (two MK1 basses and a ProIIe) i was wandering if i was able to build one myself.

Since 2018 i'm following a luhiers education (6 hours a week) at the CMB in Puurs (Belgium). I allready build an acoustic steelstring guitar (Martin#1 copy) for my wfie so now it was time to treat myself.

This Wal copy ofcouse needed to be an extra addition to my collection. Since i have a fretted Mk1, a fretless MK1 and a fretted Pro (which has a more vintage sound compaired to the MK's ) my weapons are quite complete. But they are all 4 strings ands sometimes i miss a low B. Since i prefer 4 strings i've decided to build another 4 string but tuned BEAD. 

To make a plan i disassembled my MK1 and measured everyting.  

Last week i've completed it and it feels and sounds damn close to my other Wals!  

Here are the specs:

 

Mahogany body with ebony facings (maple veneer)
Matching headstock
Maple/mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
Danish oil finish
Lusithand Double NFP special MKII preamp
Turner Multicoil Pickups
ABM bridge
Shaller tuners

Handmade potmeter knobs and output.

 

 

[RonC]

The family picture 

Edited Wednesday at 11:51 by RonC

[RonC]

Body

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Neck

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Edited Wednesday at 10:51 by RonC

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[AndyTravis]

Stunning work 

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[RonC]

Here's the great Axl Peleman (Belgium bassist) testing my bass, he was very fond of it and told me it felt like a fullblood Wal! I coundn't get a bigger compliment from the master!!   

Edited Wednesday at 17:32 by RonC
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[RonC]

Here's my son Stef (who just swapped to bass after playing drums for 7 years  ) playing the back beauty.

Edited Wednesday at 17:33 by RonC

[RonC]

And of course myself testing it..

Soundclips will follow!